Lions bring fitness message, cash to Harvey Elementary School

The Detroit Lions’ 2012 season may be disappointing, but the students and staff at Jack Harvey Elementary School in Sterling Heights could not have cared less Tuesday.

Several members of the Lions visited as part of the NFL’s Play 60 fitness campaign. Players answered students’ questions and led the boys and girls through 60 minutes of physical activities.

Oh, and they dropped off $10,000 while they were at it.

Harvey was one of just 34 schools in the nation and the only one in Michigan to earn a NFL Play 60 grant to be used for health and wellness programming or equipment.

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“It is very special,” said Nick Russo, Harvey principal.

Gosder Cherilus, Drayton Florence, Jonte Green, Will Heller, Ashley Palmer and Stephen Tulloch were among the Lions who visited. During a short assembly, the players interacted with students and answered questions about fitness and nutrition.

“Physical education is very important,” Tulloch told the students, “especially nowadays with all the video games out there … (And) getting your rest is important, too.”

Heller, a 10-year NFL veteran, said his keys to lasting fitness include eating plenty of fruits and vegetables and avoiding fast foods.

“It’s shocking, I know,” he told the students. “But the nuggets are not actually chicken.”

Carol Beninati is a volunteer mom with two children enrolled at Harvey. She serves on the school’s health team and wrote the grant application that resulted in Harvey earning the $10,000.

“We’re always looking for opportunities to get new money for the school,” Beninati said. “We wanted to improve our playground for our 50th anniversary. I thought it was a good opportunity so I decided to write it and give it a shot. And we won.”

The money is earmarked for playground improvements.

Christine Johns, Utica Community Schools superintendent, said the Lions’ visit illustrates how well-known adults can provide positive role models for the students who look up to them.

“I think any adult that’s in a celebrity role or any kind of leadership role has an impact on young children,” Johns said. (Students) know who the Lions are. They see them on TV and based on the kids’ responses, they were really excited.”

Beninati even suggested the health and fitness message delivered Tuesday by the NFL players might go further than all the encouragement from well-meaning moms and dads.

“I think it impresses them more because they listen to them more than they do to mom and dad,” she quipped.